Reflection - Chosen

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/011820.cfm
1 Samuel 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1
Mark 2:13-17

So!

God chose Abram . . .

—- “Wait! Wait! Wait! You mean Saul.”

No, I mean Abram. Saul comes much later.

So! As I was saying . . .

God chose Abram, a rich but elderly sheepherder who lived in Haran. At the time God chose him, Abram was seventy-five years old. God changed Abram’s name and made extravagant promises. This childless man was to be the father of a great nation and through him all the nations of the world would be blessed.

Several centuries later God chose Moses, the erstwhile, stuttering darling of the Egyptian court, to deliver his messages, and lead God’s Chosen People.

Moving on through the years we find that God chose Gideon. Now, Gideon was a nobody; but he was supposed to lead a volunteer army against Israel’s oppressors. In fact, he was supposed to conquer an army of thousands with just three hundred men.

Still later in this countdown of centuries God chose Saul, a big, tall, handsome guy to be the commander of the Lord’s heritage, the people of Israel. That’s what we heard about today.

As our Biblical account continues we find that Jesus chose Levi, a tax-collector and, therefore, an obvious sinner, to be one of his followers.

Down through the ages God has made numerous choices. Many, if not most of them, seem peculiar to the outside observer. He chose Abram when a younger man would have seemed more reasonable. He chose Moses at the point where Moses was an Egyptian outcast. He chose Israel when there were several more powerful and well-established nations to select from.

In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul has some observations about God’s choices. He chose what is foolish. He chose what is weak. He chose what is low. He chose what is despised. But the full context of Paul’s observations note that there was method in the ‘madness.’

“God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise.

“God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.” (1 Corinthians 1:27)

“God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are.” (1 Corinthians 1:28)

As with all accounts that record the events of mankind’s sojourn on this planet, the notable figures are the one’s who get the press. Kings, presidents, the extraordinarily wealthy, the inventors, the uselessly prestigious — all get recorded because of their impact on the world, or their portion of the world. While it would be interesting to discuss the issue of God choosing human leaders, that will have to wait. The point is: the record we find in the Bible also tends to dwell on those people who notable impact almost as if these were the only one’s God chose. Such was not the case then, nor is it now.

Paul was speaking to all believers of all times when he wrote “For we know, brethren beloved by God, that he has chosen you.” (1 Thessalonians 1:4) Surprise! Surprise! We did not choose him. He chose us. Moreover, Paul says “He chose us in him [Jesus] before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” (Ephesians 1:4) and “God chose you from the beginning to be saved through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13)

As I reflect on my life, asking the question: ‘How did I get here?’, I find myself looking more thoughtfully at this passage from Samuel. At the end of the passage Samuel anoints Saul to be the commander over God’s people. But how did Saul get there? The story tells us that he was led through the countryside trying to find the animals his father had lost. At the climactic point he is where God wanted him to be — in the presence of the prophet Samuel where God can let Samuel know that Saul is appointed by God as Commander. And the missing animals . . . their loss was seemingly a ploy God used to move Saul to be at the right place at the right time. It turned out that the missing animals had already been found.

I, like you, have been chosen. Chosen to be at this place at this time sanctified by the Spirit and believing in the truth. For what have I been chosen? To make known to all the God and Father that I know.